Carless overheated woman seeks lake swimming near NYC

July 15, 2011 11:32 AM

Swimming places slightly out of New York City for the carless?

I have no car but want to go to some nice swimming day trips out of the city. (no sleepovers, though). So, for example, I thought Harriman State Park would be nice. And I found the Short Line Bus. But the websites pointing to this are talking about hiking, not swimming - so that, once I got to the Bear Mountain Inn, I wouldn't know where to do, if the distance is walkable, etc.

I am looking for really usable directions to get to one of the lakes at Harriman State Park, and/or other similar types of spots.

I know where the ocean beaches are, that's not really what I'm looking for. More like lakes, trees, more out of the city than e.g. Brighton Beach.

(I would also prefer not to be eaten by a bear.)

So maybe not more than a two-hour bus ride or train ride from Port Authority or Grand Central.

Thanks.

posted by DMelanogaster to Travel & Transportation around New York, NY (11 answers total)

The LIRR is very convenient for Long Island beaches. Jones Beach is a popular destination, but Robert Moses is larger and more peaceful. There's a short bus from the LIRR stop to the beach.
posted by themadjuggler at 11:38 AM on July 15, 2011 [1 favorite]

And the Jersey Shore is easily reached by PATH train --> NJ Transit. http://www.njtransit.com/summer2/summer_js_beach.html>More information. Some of the train stops are within walking distance of the beach, such as Ocean Grove and Asbury Park.
posted by Mo Nickels at 11:55 AM on July 15, 2011

Err, sorry. Bad paste. NJ Transit summer beach information.
posted by Mo Nickels at 11:55 AM on July 15, 2011

I think the OP is looking for freshwater.
posted by sully75 at 12:20 PM on July 15, 2011 [1 favorite]

Croton Point Park is only an hour's ride on Metro-North, and then it's only a half-mile's walk from the station to the park proper.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:47 PM on July 15, 2011

Best answer: This guide from NY Mag looks promising, but is from 2008, so I'd confirm that all of these are still possibilities.

I've copied the ones matching "lake" on a quick skim below:

5. CANOPUS LAKE, CLARENCE FAHNESTOCK MEMORIAL STATE PARK
Minutes From Midtown: 75
Get There By: Train. Metro-North to Cold Spring ($20.50 to $27.50 round trip); taxi to park (about $25; 845-265-8294).
Cool Off: Rent a rowboat at the Boathouse ($7 for an hour, $25 for the day) or just hit the beach for a swim.
Know This: Open daily sunrise to sunset. $7 per vehicle; free entrance if you cab it. Info: 845-225-7208.

5. LAKE HOPATCONG, NJ
Minutes From Midtown: 60
Get There By: Bus. Lakeland Bus Lines ($20.60 round trip; 973-366-0600).
Cool Off: Swimming in the 2,500-acre lake is limited to a guarded beach, though many rent Jet Skis or boats at nearby marinas and set off for a private cove.
Eats: Stock up on hot dogs and buns at Pathmark, near the bus drop-off.
Know This: Info: 973-398-7010.

8. SPRING LAKE, LONG ISLAND
Minutes From Midtown: 85
Get There By: Bus. Academy Bus ($30 round trip; 201-420-7000).
Cool Off: Opt for one of Spring Lake’s middle beaches, like Newark Avenue Beach, for a slightly roomier swim (and a slightly longer trek for food and bathrooms).
Know This: $8 entry fee per person (no charge for children 11 and under). Info: 732-449-8005.
posted by kathryn at 12:52 PM on July 15, 2011

Swimming holes in New York - it's for the whole state, and I don't know the state well enough to make guesses at travel times.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:59 PM on July 15, 2011

I've gone swimming at Harriman a few times, hiked it a bunch. To swim there you need to do a fair amount of hiking to get to the lake. Get a trail map first, and then you want to take the PATH train to Hoboken and then NJT to Tuxedo.

There are a few places to swim, but the one I know off the top of my head is to take the Mt Ivy red trail east for about a mile and a half and then take the white trail north to the yellow Triangle trail north for another half a mile and then you hit a good swimming spot on lake Sebago.

But seriously, don't do this without a map, and bring a friend.
posted by overhauser at 7:16 PM on July 15, 2011

Also, you can do this in a day, but it's a long day. I usually don't go if I cant get myself out of the door before 8 am, which gets me from Brooklyn to the PATH by 9, and to Tuxedo by 11. And even then I'm catching a 6 or 7 pm NJT back. The last thing you want is to be hiking in the dark. Not fun.
posted by overhauser at 7:20 PM on July 15, 2011

You could ride your bike (assuming you own one) to one of the nearby pools just outside the city, in Rockland County. The first two that come to mind are in Tallman State Park and High Tor State Park.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 8:47 PM on July 15, 2011

Have you considered a car sharing membership, like with Mint, Zipcar, or Hertz on Demand?
posted by reddot at 8:45 AM on July 16, 2011